Category: IAF

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248: INTERNATIONAL AEROSPACE SAFETY CONFERENCE 2022 (IASCON-22)

 

 

The international aerospace conference was conducted by the Indian Air Force recently. There were three sessions at the conference and the themes were as follows:

 

  • Session 1: Human error
  • Session 2: Maintenance safety
  • Session 3: Damage due to foreign objects and bird/animal strike.

 

I was lucky to be associated with the conference and it had lots of takeaways. The link to the video on excerpts is below:

 

 

For selective viewing click on the links below:

 

  • Summarising talk on FOD
    • Engine withdrawals
    • FOD prevention equipment becoming FOD source.
    • FOD at production agencies.
    • Alertness by everyone is essential.
  • Summarising talk on bird/animal strike.
    • Six verticals of anti-bird measures (habitat, exclusion, harassment, hard measures, platform features, and procedural)
    • Hazards due to reptiles and rodents.
    • Birds get used to the measures – need for constant change of measures.
    • Each airfield has its own peculiarities – it is not a one solution fits all.
    • Need for BIRDTAMS.
    • Environment control around the airfields.
    • Aircraft designs to prevent injury due to shattering of the canopy due to bird strike.
  • Q and A Session
    • Application of threat and error management concept to bird strike control.
    • Myth or reality – Birds fold their wings and dive down when threatened of collision.
  • Suggestions post-session 1 on Human error.
    • Importance of “ownership” in the flight safety culture (example of mother and child).
    • “It is my job – I will do it well and I will do it safely”.
    • CFIT – “Superior skill is required to avoid getting into dangerous situations rather than getting out of them”.
    • Review of carrot and stick policy of safety implementation.
    • Periodic assessment of “Risk Profile and Emotional Quotient” of the crew.
  • Suggestions post-session 2 on Maintenance safety
    • Increase of Flight safety element and weightage in the professional categorization tests.
    • Adverse effects of over monitoring.
    • Rules of delegation – “Don’t keep a dog and bark yourself”.

 

Bottom Line

Aerospace safety is everyone’s responsibility.

 

Question

Why do human beings insist on making their own mistakes rather than learning from others?

 

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245: Coming Up: Lessons form Air War in Ukraine

Pics Courtesy Internet (Youtube.com & timesofisrael.com)

 

It has been fourteen days since the war in Ukraine started.

 

Lot of action has taken place on ground and in the air.

 

Claims and counterclaims have been made.

 

Various actions (as well as non actions) have been analysed and opinions generated.

 

Reconciliatory tone from both sides is already being heard.

 

In spite of fog of war and media hyped propaganda there are lessons emerging. 

 

 

Coming up ” Air war and Lessons”, under following headings.

 

  • Reported use of Air Power by Russia.

 

  • Reported Use of Air Power by Ukraine.

 

  • Reported losses and media narratives.

 

  • Concept of Air Superiority.

 

  • Concept of No Fly Zone.

 

  • Effect on Russian equipment with Indian Military.

 

  • Broad Security lessons.

 

  • Lessons related to warfare.

 

  • Lessons specific to use of Air Power.

 

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244: Vayu Shakti (Fire Power Demo)

 

VAYU SHAKTI: CAPABILITY-BASED IAF EXERCISE

 

Exercise Vayu Shakti was to be held on 07 Mar 22 at Pokharan air to ground range near Jaisalmer air force station.

Unfortunately it has been called off.

This exercise is a display of the capabilities of the Indian Air Force.

 

Curtain Raiser

https://youtu.be/G5J2yUDMZDk

 

 Display of IAF Capability. It is a display of IAF’s capability to influence events on the ground (in a war). It showcases   the ability to hit hard, hit fast and hit with precision, hit during the day, hit during night, and hit under adverse weather conditions.

  • Display of capability of full-spectrum operations.
  • Display of ability to destroy targets.
  • Display of ability for punitive action.
  • Display of aerial platforms (Fighters, helicopters, Combat support ac. AWACS and Unmanned platforms.
  • Display of indigenous equipment.
  • Display of a variety of weapons and their effect.
  • Display of precision capability.
  • Display of lethality.
  • Display of ability for quick insertion and extrication of troops & special forces.
  • Display of ground attack and air defence capability.
  • Display of HADR capability.

 

Long Association

I was lucky to have been associated with this exercise, for a long time and at various ranks, while in the IAF. 

  • As a junior officer participated in the firepower demonstration exercises, firing weapons from Mig-21 and Jaguar aircraft.
  • Commanded Air force Station Jaisalmer (2005-06). As Station commander was deeply involved with the conduct of a joint Army and Air Force exercise “Ex Desert Strike”, that took place in Nov 2005.
  • As DGAO was involved with the conduct and review of the exercise Vayu shakti 2016.
  • As VCAS was involved and reviewed exercise Vayu shakti 2019.

 

Vayu Shakti 2019: (Trying and Tiring Times)

Vayu Shakti 2019 was conducted in Feb 2019, during very tense times, post terrorist attack at Pulwama. 40 of our brave hearts were martyred during these attacks. Feeling of sorrow, disgust and anger were prevalent, not only amongst the military but entire nation. On 14 Feb 2019, I (as VCAS) was at Jaisalmer reviewing the progress of preparation for exercise Vayu Shakti. On receiving the news of terrorist attack, I headed back to Delhi. The next few days were depressingly busy, with overseeing the staff coordinating the last journey and last rights of the martyrs.

 

Also the process of decision making for appropriate response to the ghastly incident was also in progress. Use of Air power was chosen for the first time and planning for “Operation Bandar” against the terrorist camp at Balkot commenced.  Decision was also taken that the all planned activities would continue as planned. Even other activities like Aero India air show (20 – 24 Feb 19) and planned inauguration of the War memorial (on 25 Feb 19), with fly past were conducted as planned.  

Op Staff at Air HQ had many a sleepless nights during those two weeks.

In this back drop the exercise Vayu Shakti was conducted and was a great success as expected.

 

Press Conference: Feb 2019

Three years have flown by.
Questions and Answers are still relevant.

 

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